In the Margins: Volunteer group hopes to help reduce violent crimes

View full sizeYouth members of Parishioners on Patrol, also called Next Generation Leaders, held signs at Wednesday's city council meeting to announce a new crime-fighting initiative and mourn the loss of a friend.

Below is our take on a recent news item regarding a partnership between Parishioners on Patrol and Crimes toppers. Read the original story here.

SAGINAW — The day after his
young friend was killed by gunfire, Rev. Larry Camel of Parishioners on Patrol
announced a partnership to reduce violent crime to members of the Saginaw City
Council Monday.

SN: This tragedy
should not go unnoticed, especially in a city that continues to rank with Flint
and Detroit as the city's most violent. From all accounts, Huston was an
innocent bystander, sitting on a porch when he was shot in a drive-by shooting.

Camel spoke in a
monotone voice to the council, describing plans to fight crime identical to
the senseless act that killed his "spiritual son" less than
24 hours earlier.

More than 20 young
people held signs in support of the new campaign and in remembrance of their
fallen friend.

SN: It's good to see
young people supporting the campaign, but we'd like to see more than 20. Every
young person in this town should be behind crime-fighting initiatives. As part
of the POP initiative, members will be passing out flyers, where tips can be called
in for crimes. It's a start and it's great to see a church, and community,
involved. But, it's not a solution to a much bigger problem of people willing
to take lives despite repercussions. We hope as the church community is passing
out flyers, they can also talk to people about the culture of crime that is
taking over some of our streets.

Jean Olivares, an
adult volunteer, said the group planned to come out in numbers to the city
council meeting before the shooting happened, but the violent weekend brought
an added meaning to their presence on the council steps and inside the meeting
room.

Olivares said she
lives nearby Celebration Hall, where another shooting happened Saturday, and
said she heard the gunshots.

Councilman Norman
Braddock said the community needs to work together to fight violence.

"We should be
outraged," he said, pounding his fist on the table.

SN: Braddock is
right, the community does need to work together. And it's not just Huston's
death that is showing this. It's a constant stream of violent crime flooding
the newspaper pages and Mlive and taking the lives of the communities' future.

"Someone has
information" about the crimes happening in the community, Braddock said, and
they should report what they know.

"This kid was trying
to do everything right," he said. "He was supposed to start work today and he
was not a gangbanger. This was a good kid."

Dan Fitzpatrick
pointed out that the shooting victim was wearing a "Next Generation Leaders"
shirt in a photograph distributed at the meeting, which is the name of youth
group of Parishioners on Patrols, the same group holding signs at city hall.

"We just lost one of
our leaders of tomorrow," Fitzpatrick said.

The several other board members in attendance echoed their
comments and applauded Parishioners on Patrol for their efforts to reduce
crime.